Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2004-01-06
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S064000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06675084
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic transmission for use in an automobile, and more particularly, to a transmission control system and method for controlling a transmission in the situation where a second transmission shift request occurs while a previous gear-shifting operation is still being performed.
In the typical prior art automatic transmission, if a new transmission shift request is input to a transmission control unit that is currently performing a prior gear-shifting operation, the transmission control unit triggers a gear-shifting operation of the newly requested transmission shift request immediately, regardless of whether the foregoing gear-shifting operation is completed.
Since the foregoing gear-shifting operation is abruptly stopped as soon as the new transmission shift request occurs, applying/releasing actions of hydraulic pressure of the foregoing gear-shifting operation are ceased in an unfinished state. In this situation, when the new gear-shifting operation for the new transmission shift request is immediately started, newly triggering application of the hydraulic pressure, there may be a shifting shock due to an interlock of the hydraulic pressure in some hydraulic ports or the like, degrading quality of the shifting operation of the transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a transmission control system and method that is capable of preventing abnormal shifting shock from occurring when a new transmission shift request occurs while a prior gear-shifting operation is still being performed, and which is capable of completely performing the new gear-shifting operation of the new transmission shift request.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission control system comprises a shift lever whose position is changeable through a lever-shifting action by a driver selecting a transmission stage to be changed into; a transmission stage detection unit for detecting a new position of the shift lever due to the lever-shifting action, and outputting corresponding signals; and a transmission control unit receiving the signals from the transmission stage detection unit and performing a gear-shifting operation of the transmission. The transmission control unit contains a time map of a number of values of permissible time intervals that respectively correspond to all kinds of gear-shifting operations of the transmission. When a new transmission shift request is input to the transmission control unit while still performing the prior gear-shifting operation, the transmission control unit allows the currently performed prior gear-shifting operation to be held only during a corresponding permissible time interval set in the time map and then performs the newly requested gear-shifting operation.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the transmission control system further comprises a timer to monitor the time lapse relative to the permissible time interval and send signals corresponding to a current time to the transmission control unit. If the prior gear-shifting operation is completed before the permissible time interval is fully elapsed, the transmission control unit performs the new gear-shifting operation of the new transmission shift request immediately.
Further, the present invention provides a transmission control method comprising performing a first gear-shifting operation, determining whether a new transmission shift request exists while the first gear-shifting operation is being performed, obtaining a permissible time interval related to the first gear-shifting operation from a time map, if the new transmission shift request exists in the step (b), continuing to perform the first gear-shifting operation during the permissible time interval obtained from the time map, while delaying a new gear-shifting operation of the new transmission shift request, and performing the new gear-shifting operation after the permissible time interval has elapsed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4955257 (1990-09-01), Terayama et al.
patent: 5662551 (1997-09-01), Kamada
patent: 5868033 (1999-02-01), Nishino et al.
patent: 5885188 (1999-03-01), Iizuka
patent: 6128566 (2000-10-01), Nishino
patent: 6361465 (2002-03-01), Hirose
patent: 06-011033 (1994-01-01), None
Hyundai Motor Company
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Zanelli Michael J.
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